Ice cube making and vending machine



Se t. 21, 1965 R. B. FEISTEL, JR

ICE CUBE MAKING AND VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1962INVENTOR 20/95 7- 5. FE/57'EL,Jk.

Sept. 21, 1965 B. FEISTEL, JR

ICE CUBE MAKING AND VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1962r--- r--fi T l l l I l I I l INVENTOR.

9052-27 5. F'E/S TEL/JR.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 21, 1965 R. B. FEISTEL, JR

ICE CUBE MAKING AND VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3, 1962p mad mm s 5 INVENTT R P054927 50 FeisrELJ/e.

Sept. 21, 1965 R. B. FEISTEL, JR

ICE CUBE MAKING AND VENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 5, 1962United States Patent A O 3,207,366 ICE CUBE MAKING AND VENDING MACHINERobert B. Feistel, Jr., 42.0 E. Sheridan, Oklahoma City, Okla. FiledDec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,738 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-2) The presentinvention relates to vending machines and more particularly, but not byway of limitation, relates to an ice making and vending apparatus, whichcontinually manufactures a supply of ice and upon thedeposit of apredetermined value in coins automatically dlspenses a receptacle andpermits the acquisition, at the will of the customer, of a predeterminedvolume of ice sufficient to fill the receptacle, and further relates tovarious novel subcom'binations of the vending machine having utility ashereafter described.

As is well known, coin-operated machines are presently used for vendingbags of crushed ice which have been manufactured and packaged at an iceplant, then transported to remote vending stations located moreconveniently to the ultimate consumer. This type of operation requiresconsiderable manual labor and attention in order to maintain a supply ofsacked ice in the storage vault in addition to the cost of packaging theice and transporting the bags to the remote localities.

Automatic ice making machines have also been reduced to practice and arein widespread use. One such automatic ice making machine is manufacturedand marketed by Frigidaire and the ice cubes are sometimes sold underthe trademark Party-Kubes. The present invention contemplates thecombination of such an ice making machine with a novel coin operateddispensing mechanism, and the particular embodiment of the dispensingmechanism is particularly adapted and dimensioned for use in combinationwith the Frigidaire ice making machine. Generally speaking, the icemaker operates by first freezing a rectangular layer of ice ofconsiderable size, but relatively small thickness, by running Water overa sloping refrigeration plate. When the layer of ice reaches apredetermined thickness, a switch is actuated which reverses therefrigeration cycle and warms the refrigeration plate. The layer of icethen slides down the sloping refrigeration plate onto a crossed wiregrid. The refrigeration cycle is reversed once again so that anotherlayer of ice will be formed on the sloping refrigeration plate.Meanwhile, the first layer of ice is cut into small cubes by the wiregrid which is slightly warmed by an electrical current. When therelatively heavy layer of ice has forced its way through the wire grid,the resulting cubes of ice fall downwardly into a refrigerated storagebin. When the bin is substantially full of ice cubes, a feeler switchstops operation of the ice making cycle. When ice is removed from thestorage bin to such an extent that the ice falls below a predeterminedlevel, the ice making cycle is automatically started once again so as tomaintain a predetermined supply of ice in the storage bin at all times,so long as the ice making capacity of the particular machine is notexceeded. Heretofore, these ice making machines have been used byrestaurants to make ice for their own needs, by motels where it isdesired to provide a free supply of ice to guests, and by various retailorganizations where the ice can first be packaged then vended, or wherean attendant is continuously on duty to package and sell the ice.

Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide, in combination, an automatic ice making and vending machinewhich may be positioned at a remote spot and which will make and sellice without attendance by a salesman.

Another important object of the present invention is to 'ice provide anice vending machine which is readily adaptable for combination with anytype of bulk storage bin for ice or other particulate material.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an ice vendingmachine of the type described which will automatically dispense aplastic bag container to a customer upon receipt of a predeterminedvalue of coins, and then will dispense a predetermined quantity of iceto fill the bag at the command of the customer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bag dispensingmachine for dispensing one plastic bag from a plurality of plastic bagsstored as a roll.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbag dispensing machine of the type described which is very compact andyet will contain a large quantity of bags.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanismfor dispensing a predetermined quantity of ice cubes from a storage binat the command of a customer.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an icedispensing mechanism of the type described which efliciently preventsthe entrance of warm air into the cold storage bin during operation ofthe device.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an icedispensing apparatus of the type described which can be started andstopped any number of times by the customer, but which will neverthelessdispense a predetermined quantity of ice.

Many additional objects and advantages of the present invention will beevident to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic ice making and dispensingmachine combination constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the cover of the vending machine of FIG. 1showing the relative positions of the bag {lispensing and coin receivingmechanisms in dotted out- FIG. 3 is a plan view, partially in section,of the ice dispensing mechanism with the bag dispensing mechanism andthe coin receiving mechanism removed;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on section line44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the bag dispensing mechanism ofthe device of FIG. 1 taken on the staggered section line 5-5 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a front view, partially in section, taken substantially on thestaggered section line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a roll of bags which are dispensed bythe bag dispensing mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view through one of the bags from theroll of bags of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the joint between two successive bags on theroll of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a valve mechanism for closing the spout of thematerial dispensing device of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of the electrical circuit control means forthe device of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, anautomatic ice making and vending machine constructed in accordance withthe present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral10. The device 10 is comprised of the combination of a standardautomatic ice making machine, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 12, which may be any one of those presently available on themarket. However, that ice machine illustrated is manufactured andmarketed by Frigidaire, and comprises an upper ice making unit 14, whichis positioned on top of a combination cold storage bin and refrigerationunit 16. A support base 18 is also available in the event it is desiredto raise the machine to a more convenient level.

The ice making unit 14 continually and automatically produces ice cubesin the manner previously described and maintains the cold storage bin ofthe unit 16 substantially full at all times. The cold storage bin,indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, occupies that portionof the unit 16 above the dotted line 22 in FIG. 1, and has a bottom 24,a back wall 26, a front wall 28, and two side walls 30, as best seen inFIGS. 3 and 4. The cold storage bin is provided with an access openingin the front wall 28, as defined by the bottom edge 32 and the top edge34 in FIG. 4 and the side edges 36 and 38 in FIG. 3.

A novel vending unit constructed in accordance with the presentinvention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 40. Thedispensing unit 40 has an external cover 42 which houses a conventionalcoin receiving unit 44. The coin receiving unit 44 may be of anyconventional design and may be bolted or otherwise suitably connected toa chassis plate 46 (see FIG. 4). Coins are deposited through a slot 47in the cover 42 and are received in a coin hopper 48, as shown in dottedoutline in FIG. 2. A coin return button 50 can be pressed to securecoins deposited my mistake, which are returned at the coin slot 52. Asuitable signal light 54 may be provided to indicate when the vendingdevice is inoperative or sold out, as will hereafter be described ingreater detail. The cover 42 may be removed by inserting a key inkeyholes 56 disposed on either side of the cover 42 so that the vendingdevice may be repaired and in order to gain access to the interior ofthe storage bin 20. Plastic bags are dispensed through a slot 58 in thecover 42 by a bag dispensing unit 60 which will hereafter be describedin greater detail. A manually operated vend button 61 is disposedadjacent to an ice delivery spout 62 so that a customer can controloperation of the ice dispensing mechanism presently to be described. -Ashelf 64 is supported by the chassis plate 46 and side plates 66 toassist the customer by supporting the bag as it is being filled by icedispensed from the spout 62.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ice dispensing mechanism constructedin accordance with the present invention for removing ice from thestorage bin 20, is indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. Theice dispensing mechanism 70 is comprised of a pan 72 having an outlineas best seen in FIG. 3, around which an integral upturned peripheralside wall 74 extends. It will be noted that the side wall 74 issubstantially circular around the back side and has an upper lip orflange 75 extending therearound. A support leg '76 is provided at therear of the pan 72 and engages the bottom 24 of the storage bin 20 tosupport the rear end of the dispensing device 70. The forward edge ofthe pan 72 rests on the lower edge 32 of the opening in the wall 28 andone or more brackets 78 are provided to prevent unauthorized removal ofthe pan 72 from the bin. The pan 72 passes through an elongated,rectangular slot in the chassis plate 46 and is rigidly connected to thechassis plate 46. An insulated door 80 is connected to the chassis plate46 and to the pan 72 and fills the remainder of the opening in the frontwall 28.

One or more locking means, indicated generally by the reference numeral81, are provided to secure the dispensing mechanism 70 in place. Eachlocking means 81 is comprised of a lever 82 connected to a shaft 84which extends through and is journaled in the door 80. A cam 86 isconnected to the innermost end of the shaft 84 and engages the interiorsurface of the wall 28 adjacent the edge 34 of the opening to secure thedevice 70 in place when the lever 82 is pivoted. Thus it will be notedthat when the pan 72 and door 80 are inserted through the opening in thefront wall 28, as illustrated in FIGS. 3

4 and 4, the pan will rest on the lower edge 32 and the leg 76, and willbe retained within the bin 20 by the brackets 78 and the cams 86. Thenwhen the cover 42 is secured in place by the key, the dispensingapparatus cannot be removed from the storage bin 20 by vandals.

An ice dispensing wheel 88 is journaled on an upright spindle 90 whichis rigidly connected ot the center of the pan 72. The dispensing wheel88 has a thickness substantially as illustrated such that a plurality ofpassageways 91 extending through the periphery of the wheel form, actingin concert with the bottom of the pan 72, a series of pockets into whichice cubes will enter by gravity from the bin. The dispensing wheel 88 isfabricated from a pair of similar circular discs 92 and 94 which arestamped from sheet metal in circular form with center apertures forreceiving a bearing sleeve 96 and peripheral apertures for receivingtubular sleeves 98 which form the passageways 91. The two discs 92 and94 may be assembled by soldering or welding the bearing sleeve andtubular sleeves 98 in place to complete the dispensing wheel 88.

The dispensing wheel 88 is rotated by a motor 100 which drives apositive traction drive belt 102. The drive belt 102 passes around adrive sprocket 104 on the shaft of the motor 100 and around each of thetubular sleeves 98, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. An idler sheave 105may be connected to the wall 74 of the pan 72 for maintaining thedesired tension in the drive belt 102. The dispensing opening 106 isprovided in the bottom of the pan 72 and is so spaced from the axis ofrotation of the wheel 88 as to register with each of the passageways 91in the outer periphery of the wheel 88 as the Wheel is rotated. An upperdispensing spout 108 is connected to the underside of the pan 72 aroundthe opening 106 and is aligned with the lower dispensing spout 62 whichmay be connected to a lower chassis plate 109. An air valve for closingthe lower end of the upper spout 108 in order to assist in preventingwarm air from entering the storage bin 20 and also prevent vandals fromtinkering with the internal parts of the mechanism, is mounted on thelower chasis plate 109 and operates between the spouts 108 and '62.

The air valve 110 is shown in detail in the plan view of FIG. 10, and iscomprised of two shutter halves 112 and 114 which are journaled onupright spindles 116 and 118, respectively, for movement in a horizontalplane. The shutter 1 12 has a lever arm portion 120 which extends beyondthe spindle 116. A linkage arm 122 is pivotally connected to the leverportion 120 and to the other shutter member 114 by pivot pins 124 and126, respectively. The armature 129 of a solenoid 128 is connected to asecond linkage arm 1 30 which in turn is pivotally connected to thefirst shutter member 112 by a third pivot pin 132. A suitable coilspring 134 is connected to the housing of the solenoid 128 by a suitablebracket 135 and to the second shutter member 114- by an angle bracket136.

When the solenoid 128 is energized, the armature 129 will be moved tothe left when referring to FIG. 10. The linkage 130 will then pivot theshutter half 112 counterclockwise about the pivot spindle 116. Thismotion will in turn, by means of the linkage arm 122, pivot the shutterhalf 114 clockwise about the spindle 118 such that the shutter members112 and 114 will be moved in opposite directions and completely open theupper dispensing spout 108. When the solenoid 128 is deene-rgized, thecoil spring 134 will rotate the right hand shutter member 114counterclockwise and, due to the linkage arm 122, rotate the left handshutter member 112 clockwise to close the shutter members to theposition illustrated in FIG. 10.

An agitator device, indicated generally by the refer ence numeral 140,is comprised of an elongated, flattened arm 142 which is journaled on aneccentrically located, upright spindle 144 on the wheel 88. Anelongated, lot

146 in the arm 142 receives a pin 148 which is connected to the flange75 of the pan 72. A pair of upstanding flange portions 149 and 150 areinterconnected by a cross member 152 to form a scratcher portionprojecting above the elongated member 142. Thus it will be noted that asthe wheel 88 is rotated about the spindle 90, for purposes hereafterdescribed in greater detail, the elongated member 142 and the scratcherportion connected to the outer end thereof will be oscillated and willtend to agitate the ice cubes within the storage bin 20 and prevent thecubes from forming a frozen bridge across the dispensing wheel 88.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the plastic bag dispensing apparatus 60has a chassis formed of sheet metal and comprised of a back plateportion 160, two side plate portions 162 and 614, the latter being shownonly in dot-ted outline in FIG. 6, and two forward flange plate portions166 and 168 which are bent at 90 degrees to the side portions 162 and164, respectively, and are therefore disposed parallel to the back plate160 and serve as stiifeners. A plurality of plastic bags 170, ashereafter described in greater detail, are stored on a spool 172 havinga pair of stub axles 174. A pair of U-shaped brackets 176 and 178 areconnected to the side plates 162 and 164, respectively, and have a shapesubstantially as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 5 for receiving thestub axles 174 and rotatably supporting the spool 172. After the plasticbags 170 pass from the back side of the spool 172, they pass between anidler roller 180 and a curved guide plate 182, as best seen in FIG. 5,extend horizontally above the guide plate 182, pass between an anvil 184and a feeler switch 186 and then pass around a second idler roller 188.A pair of bag empty switches 190 are held in closed position when therollers 192 ride on the plastic bags 170. However, when the end of thelast bag 170 passes, or the bags for any reason become misaligned, therollers 192 drop into slots 194 in the guideplate 182 and open theswitches 190 to discontinue operation of the vending machine, as willhereafter be described in greater detail. The height of the anvil 184 ispreferably adjustable by a suitable mechanism 196 so that the feelerswitch 186 can be actuated when the bottom seam of each bag 170 passesbetween the feeler switch and the anvil 184, as will hereafter bedescribed in greater detail.

The plastic bags 170 pass upwardly from the idler roller 188 to thedrive mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 200. Itwill be noted that if the roll of bags 170 is sufliciently large, thatportion of the bags extending between the idler roller 188 and the drivemechanism 200 will roll on the bags on the spool 172. The drivemechanism 200 is comprised of a drive roller 202, three idler rollers204, 206 and 208 all of which are rotatably mounted between the sideplate portions 162 and 164 of the chassis, and an endless belt 210having a width slightly greater than that of the plastic bags 170. Thecenter idler roller 206 is preferably slidably mounted in channels onthe side plate portions 162 and 164, one of the channels beingrepresented by the dotted outline 212 in FIG. 5, and is spring biased soas to eliminate slack and maintain a constant tension in the endlessbelt 210 during operation of the drive mechanism. A suitable electricmotor 214 drives a gear train 216 which in turn drives the roller 202. Asecond guide member 218 interconnects the side plate portions 162 and164 and serves as a brace as well as a support for the plastic bagsbeing dispensed through the aperture 58 in the cover 42.

Referring now to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the plastic bags 170 are preferablyfabricated from a circular sleeve of thermoplastic material having along length. The circular sleeve is folded substantially as shown inFIG. 8 with pleated sides 170a and flat sides 1713b. A heat welded seam170a extends transversely across the sleeve of bag material at uniformlyspaced points and each Welded seam forms the bottom of a plastic bag170. A perforation 170d is disposed very close to the weld 170a andprovides a means whereby each individual bag 170 may be easily separatedfrom the remainder of the roll of bags. A plastic tie string 171 is alsoconnected to each bag 170 by the thermoplastic welded seam 1700 and isprovided with the Perforation 171a which may be easily broken such thateach tie string 171 may be used to tie the upper end of the respective'bag after it has been filled with ice, as hereafter described ingreater detail. In brief summary, it will be noted that the continuouslength of plastic bags 170 leaves the roller and passes between theanvil 184 and the feeler switch 186 before being dispensed by the drivemechanism 200. Each time that the raised, welded seam 170a passesbetween the anvil 184 and the feeler switch 186, the bag dispensingmechanism drive motor 214 will be stopped by control circuitry presentlyto be described, such that only one bag at a time will be dispensedthrough the slot 53in the cover 42. The dispensed bag can easily be tornalong the perforation 170d. The drive mechanism 200 will prevent anyother bags from being pulled from the roller.

Referring now to FIG. 11, circuit means for controlling the operation ofthe ice making and vending device 10 is indicated generally by thereference numeral 250. Those parts of the device 10 which have beenpreviously described are indicated by the same reference numerals in theschematic diagram of FIG. 11. Thus the coin receiving mechanism is thatportion Within the dotted outline designated by the reference numeral44, and includes a multiple contact plug 252 which is inserted in asimilar multiple contact socket 254 to unite the circuitry of the coinreceiving device 44 and the remainder of the circuitry for controllingthe device 10. The mating terminals of the plug 252 and socket 254 aredesignated by the corresponding numbers #1-8, it being understood thatin the completed circuit the plug 252 is mated with the socket 254 so asto complete the electrical circuit. Terminals #1 and #2 are connectedacross a conventional volt A.C. source by conductors 256 and 258, and260 and 262, respectively. The conductor 256 is connected to the switchblade of an ice detector switch 264 which is positioned in the storagebin 20 and which is closed so long as there is a sufficient supply ofice, and completes a circuit through a conductor 266 to the bag detectorswitches 190 of FIGS. 5 and 6, which are closed by the presence of a bagas previously described. When the ice detector switch 264 or either ofthe bag detector switches is open due to the absence of ice or bags, acircuit is completed from the conductor 256 through conductor 268 toterminal #5 and through the empty indicator light 54 back to terminal #2and to conductor 260.

It will also be noted that the bag seam feeler switch 186 and the bagdispenser drive motor 214, both shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the manual vendswitch 61 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ice vend drive motor 100 shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, and the solenoid 128 shown in FIG. 10 are also includedin the circuit diagram of FIG. ll. In addition, a synchronous timingmotor 290 drives a timing cam 292 which in turn actuates a timing switch294, as hereafter described in greater detail.

A first relay 270 has a pair of switchblades 272 and 274- which aremoved between contacts 272a and 272b, and 274a and 274b, respectively,by a pair of solenoids 270a and 2701:. Thus it will be noted that therespective switchblades are moved against the a contacts when thesolenoid 270a is energized and will remain in that position until thesolenoid 27012 is energized, at which time the respective switchbladeswill be moved against the b contacts, where they will remain until suchtime as the solenoid 270a is again energized. A second relay 280 of thesame type has actuating solenoids 280a and 28% which move fourswitchblades 282, 284-, 286 and 288 between a and 17 contacts28211-28217, 284a284b, 286a-286b and 288a and 288b, respectively, whenenergized. It will be noted that the switchblades 286 and 288 move inopposite directions to the switchblades 282 and 284 and accordingly thea and b contacts are also reversed. All switchblades are illustrated innormal position which will be taken to mean the position prior toactuation of the device by coins deposited by a customer.

The coin receiving apparatus 44 has a coin counting or so-called stepperswitch, indicated generally by the reference numeral 380, which isenergized from terminal #6 by the conductors 302 and 304. The stepperswitch 300 has a series of switchblades 306, 308 and 310 which aretripped by a predetermined number and denomination of coins. Assumingfor the moment that the terminal #6 is energized by connection toterminal #1, as will hereafter be described, when the switch 366 istripped the solenoid motor 312 will be energized and thereby close theswitchblade 314. The vend solenoid 316 will then be energized throughthe circuit from terminal #6 through manually actuated cancelswitchblade 318, solenoid actuated holding switchblade 320 and conductor322 and then through conductor 324 which is connected to terminal #2 andtherefore to conductors 262 and 260 and back to the source. Energizationof the solenoid 316 will then actuate switchblade 326 to move from theopen terminal #7 and connect terminal #1 to terminal #3 by means ofconductors 328, 330 and 332 and thereby initiate a vend cycle of thedevice 10, as will hereafter be described. If either one of theswitchblades 308 or 310 is actuated by smaller coins, a circuit will becompleted directly through conductor 334 to the solenoid 316 to closethe switchblade 326 and connect terminal #1 to terminal #3. In the eventit is desired to cancel the deposit of coins at some point in timebefore the correct total has been deposited, the button 50 in FIGS. 1and 2 may be pressed by the customer to move the switchblade 318 andbreak the circuit through switchblade 320 and through the coin returnsolenoid 336, whereby the deposited coins will be returned to thecustomer. At the same time, the circuit will be completed by theswitchblade 318 through solenoid 338 to terminal #2 and will closeswitchblade 340 to conductor 342 and thereby energize the solenoid 344to reset the stepper switch 300 to receive additional coins. Also, themovement of the switchblade 340 opens a circuit from termi nal #8through conductor 346, conductor 348 and a solenoid 350 which, whenotherwise subsequently energized as hereafter described, wouldirretrievably pass the deposited coins into the cash box.

Terminal #3 which is energized upon closing of the switchblade 326 tothe conductor 330, is connected by conductors 352, 354 and 356 toenergize the solenoids 27012 and 28% of the relays 2'70 and 280,respectively. The circuits through the solenoids 270k and 28% arecompleted to conductor 260 by conductors 358 and 360, respectively, eachof which is connected to conductor 362 and thence to conductor 260.

Switchblade 272 is connected to power conductor 256 through the icedetector switch 264, the conductor 266 and the two bag detector switches190, and conductor 364. Switchblade 274 is connected to terminal #6 byconductor 366. Contacts 272a and 274a are interconnected by conductor368 such that terminal #6 and the stepper switch 300 will be energizedas previously described when the switchblades 272 and 274 are in thepositions illustrated. Contact 27212 is connected to switchblades 286and 288 by conductor 368 and conductors 370 and 372, respectively. Theswitchblade 288 is also connected to contact 284a by conductor 374.Switchblade 286 is connected by conductor 376 to solenoid 280a which inturn is connected by conductor 378 and conductor 380 to the nor mallyopen contact 382 of the bag feeler switch 186, and also by conductor 384to switchblade 284. Contact 28211 is connected by conductors 386, 388and 368 to contacts 272a and 274a. A conductor 390 also connects thenormally open contact 392 of the timing switch 294 to the three contacts272a, 274a and 282a. Contacts 282b, 28% and 288a are open. Contact 286ais connected by conductor 394 to the switchblade 396 of the manual vendswitch 61. Contact 286b is connected by conductor 398 to the normallyclosed contact 402 of the bag seam feeler switch 186. Conductor 404connects the solenoid 270a to conductor 364, while conductor 406connects the solenoid 270a to switchblade 282. The switchblade 408 ofthe bag seam feeler switch 186 is connected by conductor 410 to the bagdispensing drive motor 214 which in turn is connected by conductor 412to conductor 260. Contact 28812 is connected by conductors 414 and 416to contact 274b, Both contacts 274b and 28811 are then connected byconductor 418 to terminal #8. The switchblade 396 of the manual vendswitch 61 is normally biased against the open contact 420. The normallyopen contact 422 is connected by conductor 424 to energize the timingmotor 290, the ice vend drive motor 100, and the solenoid 128, thecircuit from each device being completed to conductor 260.

Operation During normal operation, the ice storage bin 20 will bemaintained substantially full by the automatic ice making machine 14.Any time the supply of ice within the storage bin 20 drops below apredetermined level, the ice making machine 14 will automatically beactuated and will continue to operate until the bin 20 is filled to thepredetermined level, at which time it will automatically shut down. Theice detecting switch 264 (shown in FIG. 11) is preferably located at alow point within the storage bin 20 so as to remain closed as long asthere is a sufficient supply of ice within the storage bin to satisfyone full dispensing cycle. Also, as long as both of the bag detectorswitches 190 are held in raised position by the bags 170, theswitchblades will be in the positions indicated to properly energize theelectrical circuit means 250 in such a manner as to dispense ice, aswill presently be described. However, if either of the bag detectorswitches 190 or the ice detecting switch 264 is moved to the otherposition so as to complete a circuit to terminal #5, the empty signallight 54 will be illuminated and the device will not operate. When thisoccurs, coins deposited in the slot 47 by the customer will be held inescrow until such time as the deposit is cancelled by pressing thebutton 50 to close the switchblade 318 and deenergize the solenoid 336.The coins cannot be irretrievably delivered from escrow into the cashbox because the switchblade 274 cannot be moved to contact 27415 due tothe open circuit created by the open detector switch and the solenoid350 cannot be energized, as will presently be described, to transfer thecoins to the cash box.

Assume now that the three detector switches are satisfied. Allswitchblades will then be in the positions illustrated in FIG. 11. Thestepper switch mechanism 300 will be energized through conductor 256,detector switches 264 and 190, conductor 364, switchblade 272,conduct-or 368, switchblade 274, conductor 366, terminal #6, andconductors 302 and 304. When the correct change is deposited in the slot47, the solenoid 316 will be energized to close the switchblade 326 tothe conductor 330 and thereby connect terminal #3 to terminal #1. In thespecific circuitry illustrated, a quarter will close switchblade 306 andenergize the motor 312 to close the switchblade 314 and thereby energizethe solenoid 316. The correct combination of nickels and dimes willclose either the switchblade 308 or the switchblade 310 and directlyenergize the solenoid 316. When terminal #3 is connected to terminal #1by closing of contact 326, solenoids 27011 and 2801) will be energizedthrough conductors 352, 354 and 356, the circuits being completed byconductors 358, 360 and 362 back to the conductor 260. All switchbladesof the relays 270 and 280 will then be moved to the b contacts.

Switchblade 272 will then complete a circuit through contact 272b,conductors 368 and 370 to switchblade 286. Since switchblade 286 ismoved against contact 286b, a circuit will be completed throughconductor 398,

contact 402, switchblade 408 and conductor 410 to the bag dispenserdrive motor 214, the circuit being completed by conductor 412 to theconductor 260. At the same time, switchblade 274 closes against contact274b and completes a circuit through conductors 416 and 418 to terminal#8 and then through conductor 346, switchblade 340 and conductor 348 tothe solenoid 350 which irretrievably passes the coins from the escrowchamber into the cash box. The reset solenoid 344 is also energized toreset the tripped switchblade of the stepper switch 300 and therebyde-energize the solenoid 316 and return the contact 326 to the openterminal #7. Of course, this simultaneously de-energizes the solenoids27011 and 28% of the corresponding relays. However, the switchblades ofthe respective relays 270 and 280 remain in position against the bcontacts and the dispensing cycle continues as follows.

Upon energization of the bag dispensing drive motor 214, the driveroller 202 and consequently the endless belt 210 are set in motion in aclockwise direction when referring to FIG. 5. The endless length of bags170 is held firmly between the takeup roller 206 and the endless belt210 and is pulled from the spool 172 around the rollers 180 and 188 anddispensed over the guide member 218 and out the slot 58. When the nextsucceeding seam 170c passes between the anvil 184 and the bag seamfeeler switch 186, the switchblade 408 will be moved away from thecontact 402 and complete a circuit with contact 382. The bag dispenserdrive motor 214 will continue to be energized through the circuit fromthe switchblade 272, contact 272b, conductors 368, 370 and 376, solenoid280a, conductors 378 and 380, and switchblade 408. Thus the bagdispensing drive motor 214 will continue to operate until the seam 170chas passed the anvil 184 and the switchblade 408 has again left thecontact 382 and returned to the contact 402. However, when theswitchblade 408 closed against the contact 382 and the overrun currentwas fed to the drive motor 214, the solenoid 280a was also energizedthrough the same circuit such that the switchblades of the relay 280were moved back to the a contacts, thereby breaking the circuit throughcontact 28612 to the contact 402 of the bag feeler switch 186 such thatthe bag dispensing drive motor will not continue to operate.

The customer then tears the dispensed plastic bag along the perforation170d. The bag is then opened and placed under the dispensing spout 62.Since the solenoid 280a has again been energized, the switchblade 286completes the circuit from switchblade 272, which is still againstcontact 272b, through contact 286a and conductor 394 to the switchblade396 of the manual vend switch 61. Therefore, after the bag is positionedunder the spout 62, the vendswitch 61 is pressed to urge the switchblade396 against the contact 422 and simultaneously complete a circuitthrough the conductor 424 to the timing motor 290, the drive motor 100and the solenoid 128. The timing motor 290 is a synchronous motor androtates the cam 292 by means of a suitable shaft. Until the cam 292 hasrotated sufiiciently to close the switchblade 295 of the timing switch294 against the contact 392, the timing motor 290, the drive motor 100and the solenoid 128 will continue to be energized so long as the vendbutton 61 is held depressed by the customer. However, should thecustomer have trouble filling the bag and desire to stop the vendingoperation at any point, he can do so simply by releasing the vend button61. Then the timing motor 290 as well as the drive motor 100 will stopand the customer will be assured of receiving the full portion of iceupon pressing the vend switch 61 once again because the timing cam 292rotates only when the vend button 61 is pressed and the drive motor 100is operating.

When the solenoid 128 is energized by closing of the switchblade 396,the linkage 130 will be pulled towards the solenoid 128 and will openthe shutter members 112 and 114 by rotating them in opposite directionsabout the pivot spindles 116 and 118, as previously described. At thesame time, energization of the drive motor will cause rotation of thedispensing wheel 88 in the counterclockwise direction when referring toFIG. 3, and ice cubes which have entered the passageways 91 in theperiphery of the wheel 88 will fall into the dispensing spout-s 108 and62 as the passageways 91 pass over the opening 106 in the pan 72. As therespective passageways register with the opening 106, the ice will fallthrough the spout 62 into the plastic bag held by the customer. Duringrotation of the wheel 88, the agitator will be reciprocated in an ovalpath, as previously described, and tend to cause the ice piled upon theagitator and upon the wheel 88 to fall into the passageways 91.

The constant speed of rotation of the timing cam 292 is such that apredetermined quantity of ice will be dispensed by the constant speedwheel 88 sufficient to substantially fill the plastic bag before the cambiases the timing switchblade 295 against the contact 392. When thetiming switchblade 295 completes a circuit through the contact 392, thesolenoid 270a will be energized through the circuit comprised ofconductor 404, the solenoid 270a, conductor 406, switchblade 282,contact 282a, conductors 386 and 390, switchblade 295, conductor 424,and the parallel circuits of the timing motor 290, drive motor 100 andsolenoid 128 to the conductor 260. This, of course, instantly moves theswitchblades 272 and 274 against the a contacts. The timing motor 290overruns first through the circuit just described for energizing thesolenoid 270a and then also through the shifted switchblades 272 and 274until the timing switch 294 again opens. Then the timing motor 290,drive motor 100 and solenoid 128 are de-energized because theswitchblade 272 is now open and the circuit through the switchblade 286and manual vend switchblade 396 is broken. When this sequence iscompleted, all relays are in the original positions and the vendingdevice is ready for another vending cycle. The customer may then use thestrip 171 to tie the top of the plastic bag so as to facilitate transportation of the newly purchased ice.

From the above detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that ahighly novel and useful automatic ice making and vending machine hasbeen described. The machine will continue to make and dispense icewithout assistance or supervision as long as a supply of plastic bags isavailable within the bag dispensing apparatus. Although specificallydesigned for dispensing ice, it will be understood that thesubcombination vending device is very compact and can easily be adaptedto vend any particulate material from any storage bin of comparablesize. The vending apparatus, by reason of its novel stamped sheet metalconstruction, can be economically manufactured. The vending device ishighly reliable and substantially vandal-proof. Only one bag isdispensed at a time from the novel and compact dispensing unit whichwill hold several hundred plastic bags each of considerable length andcapacity. A predetermined quantity or volume of ice or other particulatematerial is dispensed even though the customer may find it convenient ornecessary to stop the dispensing operation and attend to readjustment ofthe bag or to other matters at hand.

Although a particular embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed in detail, it is to be understood that various changes,substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic ice making and vending machine comprising, incombination:

automatic ice making means having a cold storage bin for the ice;

electrically controllable ice dispensing means for dispensing the icefrom the storage bin;

manually operable electric circuit means operatively connected to theice dispensing means for controlling operation of the ice dispensingmeans throughout a predetermined period of time;

electrically controllable bag dispensing means for dispensing a singlebag;

coin receiver means; and,

automatic circuit means operatively connected to the coin receivermeans, to the bag dispensing means, to the manually operable electriccircuit means and to the ice dispensing means, the automatic circuitmeans being operative responsive to the deposit of coin in dispensing asingle container for the particulate material;

coin receiver means; and,

automatic circuit means operatively connected to the coin receivermeans, to the container dispensing means, to the manually operablecircuit means and to the material dispensing means, the automaticcircuit means being operative responsive to the deposit of coin in thecoin receiver means to sequentially actuate the container dispensingmeans, energize the manually operable circuit means so that the materialdispensing means may be manually operated, and automatically de-energizeand render the material dispensing means inoperative after apredetermined period of manual operation.

3. An automatic ice making and Vending machine as ship with thecorresponding openings aligned, a tubular sleeve having a crosssectional configuration corresponding to the configuration of theperipheral openings in the discs disposed around each of the alignedopenings in the periphery of the discs and interconnecting the discs toform the passageways therethrough, and a bearing sleeve aligned with thecentral openings in the discs and interconnecting the discs to form abearing for journaling the wheel upon the plate.

5. An automatic ice making and vending machine as set forth in claim 1wherein said bag dispensing means comprises:

an elongated sheath of material having a plurality of the coin receivermeans to sequentially actuate the 15 transversely disposed,longitudinally spaced seams bag dispensing means, energize the manuallyoperand means between each of the seams for permitting able circuitmeans so that the material dispensing easy transverse separation of thesheath adjacent one means may be manually operated, and automatically ofthe seams to form a bag; de-energize and render the ice dispensing meansmeans for supporting the elongated sheath; inoperative after apredetermined period of manual electrically powered drive means formoving the sheath operation. by a detection point to a dispensing point;

2. A machine for vending particulate material from detection means fordetecting the passage of each transa storage bin, the machinecomprising: verse seam by the detection point; and,

electrically controllable material dispensing means for electricalcircuit means operatively connected to the dispensing the material fromthe storage bin; electrically powered drive means and to the detectionmanually operable circuit means operatively connected means for startingoperation of the drive means and to the material dispensing means forcontrolling for automatically stopping operation of the drive operationof the material dispensing means throughmeans upon passage of apredetermined number of out a predetermined period of time; seams by thedetection point,

electrically controllable container dispensing means for whereby apredetermined number of bags will be delivered to the dispensing pointeach time the drive means is started. 6. An automatic ice making andvending machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bag dispensingmeans comprises:

a spool;

an elongated sheath of material rolled around the spool, the sheathhaving a plurality of transversely disposed, longitudinally spaced seamsof greater thickness than the sheath and means between each of the seamsfor permitting easy transverse separation of the sheath adjacent one ofthe seams to form a bag;

means for supporting the spool for rotation;

idler roller means for guiding the sheath by a detection point;

electrically powered drive means for pulling the sheath set forth inclaim 1 wherein said storage bin having an access in the sidewallthereof and said ice dispensing means comprise:

from the spool over the idler roller means by the detection point anddelivering the end of the sheath to a dispensing point;

a door for closing the access opening in the bin;

a horizontally elongated slot in the door;

a generally horizontally disposed plate extending through the slot inthe door into the interior of the bin;

a dispensing opening in the plate outside the bin;

a dispensing wheel rotatably journaled on the plate and disposed inclose sliding relationship thereto, the wheel extending through theelongated slot into the interior of the bin and extending over thedispensing opening in the plate;

a plurality of passageways extending through the pe riphery of the wheeland aligned to register with the dispensing opening in the plate; and,

drive means for rotating the wheel whereby particulate material withinthe bin will enter the passageways and be removed from the bin byrotation of the wheel and will fall downwardly through the dispensingopening as the respective passageways register with the dispensingopening.

4. An automatic ice making and vending machine as defined in claim 3wherein the dispensing wheel is comprised of:

a pair of substantially identical sheet metal discs having a pluralityof openings around the outer periphery and a central opening, disposedin parallel relationdetection means for detecting the passage of eachtransverse seam by the detection point; and,

electrical circuit means operatively connected to the drive means and tothe detection means for starting operation of the drive means and forautomatically stopping operation of the drive means upon passage of apredetermined number of seams by the detection point,

whereby a predetermined number of bags will be delivered to thedispensing point each time the drive means is started.

7. An automatic ice making and vending machine comprising, incombination:

automatic ice making means having a cold storage bin for the ice and anaccess opening in the side of the bin;

a door for closing the access opening in the bin;

a horizontally elongated slot in the door;

a generally horizontally disposed plate extending through the slot inthe door into the interior of the bin;

a dispensing opening in the plate outside the bin;

a dispensing wheel rotatably journaled on the plate and disposed inclose sliding relationship thereto, the wheel extending through theelongated slot into 13 the interior of the bin and extending over thedispensing opening in the plate;

a plurality of passageways extending through the periphery of the wheeland aligned to register with the dispensing opening in the plate;

drive means for rotating the wheel whereby ice within the bin will enterthe passageways and be removed from the bin by rotation of the Wheel andwill fall downwardly through the dispensing opening as the respectivepassageways register with the dispensing opening;

manually operable electric circuit means operatively connected tocontrol said dispensing drive means throughout a predetermined period oftime;

a chassis frame connected to the door;

an elongated sheath of material having a plurality of transverselydisposed, longitudinally spaced seams and means between each of theseams for permitting easy transverse separation of the sheath adjacentone of the seams to form a bag;

means connected to the chassis frame for supporting the elongatedsheath;

electrically powered drive means for moving the sheath by a detectionpoint to a dispensing point;

detection means for detecting the passage of each transverse seam by thedetection point;

electrical circuit means operatively connected to the electricallypowered drive means and to the detection means for starting operation ofthe drive means and for automatically stopping operation of the drivemeans upon passage of a predetermined number of seams by the detectionpoint;

coin receiver means; and,

automatic circuit means operatively connected to the coin receivermeans, to the bag dispensing means, to the manually operable electriccircuit means and to the ice dispensing means, the automatic circuitmeans being operative responsive to the deposit of coin in the coinreceiver means to sequentially actuate the bag dispensing means,energize the manually operable circuit means so that the materialdispensing means may be manually operated, and automatically de-energizeand render the ice dispensing means inoperative after a predeterminedperiod of manual operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 736,783 8/03Robinson et al. 22633 1,633,215 1/27 La Croix 2222 X 2,368,001 1/45Cooper 226--33 2,471,801 5/49 Wallace 62364 X 2,551,730 5/51 Del Sol.

2,552,413 5/51 Emerson 222370 2,595,456 5/52 Hinkel 62344 X 2,620,20512/52 Vogt.

2,645,092 7/53 Ridnour 62344 2,668,636 2/54 Martin 2222 2,671,602 3/54Vogt 22969 X 2,697,918 12/54 Comstock 62344 2,742,200 4/56 Marx 2223702,901,150 8/59 Matter 222370 2,932,429 4/60 Mannhardt 2222 2,986,8976/61 Howard 22296 X 3,028,069 4/62 Willis 22969 3,045,870 7/62 Danzingeret al. 22270 3,045,891 7/62 Alvarey 22969 3,056,529 10/62 De Show et al.22115 3,067,591 12/62 Lingle 62344 3,075,363 1/63 Conto 62344 X3,101,872 8/63 Dickinson 222227 X 3,119,518 1/64 Eschenburg et a1. 22196EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

EUGENE F. BLANCHARD, Examiner.

2. A MACHINE FOR VENDING PARTICULATE MATERIAL FROM A STORAGE BIN, THEMACHINE COMPRISING: ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLABLE MATERIAL DISPENSING MEANSFOR DISPENSING THE MATERIAL FROM THE STORAGE BIN; MANUALLY OPERABLECIRCUIT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE MATERIAL DISPENSING MEANS FORCONTROLLING OPERATION OF THE MATERIAL DISPENSING MEEANS THROUGHOUT APREDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME; ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLABLE CONTAINERDISPENSING MEANS FOR DISPENSING A SINGLE CONTAINER FOR THE PARTICULATEMATERIAL; COIN RECEIVER MEANS; AND, AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT MEANS OPERATIVELYCONNECTED TO THE COIN RECEIVER MEANS, TO THE CONTAINER DISPENSING MEANS,TO THE MANUALLY OPERABLE CIRCUIT MEANS AND TO THE MATERIAL DISPENSINGMEANS, THE AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT MEANS BEING OPERATIVE RESPONSIVE TO THEDEPOSIT OF COIN IN THE COIN RECEIVER MEANS TO SEQUENTIALLY ACTUATE THECONTAINER DISPENSING MEANS, ENER-